Severus waited for Dumbledore's response. The pots bubbling on the fire behind him was the only source of sound in the kitchen. Everything was quiet in the Black household. Not due to emptiness. Several of the members of the order were talking amongst themselves in the living room, while Severus reported the Dark Lord's plans.

"Dark magic." Dumbledore repeated. Severus stared at the parchment he had rolled up and handed it over. Albus unrolled it and looked at the crest of Slytherin with surprise.

"A potion from Salazar's books." He said softly, reading over the contents.

"He has ordered the other five to teach him the dark arts they each specialise in. I've been ordered to prepare this potion. Excessive amounts of it." Severus said.

Albus looked up from the potion and just stared at the distance for a moment, as if searching his memories for any information on what the Dark Lord had planned.

"I'm afraid I don't know what this potion could be used for." The headmaster finally spoke.

"He copied it from an original book marked with Salazar's crest. There was no title on the spine. But this amount of potion could be…" He didn't want to say it.

"The large amount means he plans to use it in a ritual of some kind. Salazar's experimental rituals are said to be many and poorly documented." Dumbledore said. "What we can be sure of, is that he plans to either get Harry to perform it… or to be part of it."

"Potter's body cannot handle so much dark energy… he will be corrupted." Severus insisted. "There needs to be a rescue attempt… he must be taken out of Malfoy manor."

"The only one with access to the manor is you Severus, and we know too little yet to risk your position being compromised."

"I am supposed to spy to ensure Potter's wellbeing. He is in the Dark Lord's hands at present… I have to do something."

"Severus, I understand your point of view. However, you are thinking irrationally. Harry is under the Dark Lord's control. You could try to rescue him, only to have the Dark Lord force him to kill you."

Severus stood up, frustration coursing through his veins. "You want me to brew the potion."

"For now. Let's observe the level of control the Dark Lord has over Harry. If you can get your hands on Salazar's book and find out what the ritual is for, then we can re-evaluate our actions."

Severus gripped the nearest chair tightly and nodded. "Very well headmaster." He said softly. Albus rolled up the parchment once more and handed it back to him.

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"I will teach you how to perform many dark and powerful curses, Harry." Bellatrix spoke, pacing around him, while Harry sat in the centre of the bare room, staring ahead. "I'm also very good at non-verbal magic, which will be a good trait to have. You wish to be trained to the Dark Lord's satisfaction don't you?" She asked coming to sit in front of him, looking at him with that deranged look characteristic of the woman. "Or do you miss your stupid godfather?" She whispered smirking maliciously. "Potty's all alone now." She cooed.

"His wish is for me to be trained." He replied calmly. Her words did not wound him. And that infuriated her. She forced a smile and cupped his face in her hands, digging her nails against his skin.

"You may genuinely wish to be his favourite, but I'll never allow it." She hissed and let go. She dragged a whimpering house-elf out from the corner of the room and tossed it in front of him. "Start with Crucio. Take out your wand."

Harry took out his wand, looking down at the whimpering house-elf.

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Lucius was charged with teaching him all about poisons and the imperius curse in particular which the patriarch was skilled in. Avery and Nott taught him different forms of blood magic and Rowle's lessons consisted in attack charms of the darkest and most explosive nature. He understood the rawness that Snape had mentioned once upon a time. Despite the constant feeling that he was walking on air, he could sense the strong remnant vibrations of the energy tingling under his skin.

He walked the halls of Malfoy manor without the need for a guard. Voldemort knew he would nor could escape. He opened one of the doors to reveal the potions lab he'd been looking for.

A cauldron similar in size to the one used when resurrecting the Dark Lord sat at the centre of the room, bubbling away to the faint orange flames beneath it. He closed the door behind him and went to sit in the corner of the room. Seconds later Snape walked in through the doors, holding a jar of powdered unicorn horn. Harry only recognised it because it was the same ingredient he had ruined and bought for the potions master. It took Snape a few seconds to notice Harry's presence.

"Why are you here P-?" Snape glared at him. "Harry?"

Harry stood and came over. His arms reached for the potions master and he held onto him with a courage he would not have had if his insecurities were not beyond his reach.

"I'm… still here." He mumbled. The potions master did not react at first. "He only controls me… when he's in the room."

Slowly Snape's arms came up to wrap around him. One hand cupped the back of Harry's head as he was pulled tighter against the professor. He felt a twinge of emotion forming at the back of his throat and moved back, away from Snape's embrace. Snape too let him go and wouldn't look at Harry in the eye.

"I told you not to occlude."

"I… had to protect my memories." Harry managed to force out. He could feel the pressure increasing at the back of his mind, encouraging him to relax and let the emptiness take hold.

"You showed him your muggle family?" Snape said turning to use his wand to stir the potion with a large ladle.

"I showed him that muggle." Harry said. The ladle suddenly stopped for a few seconds before it continued stirring.

"Then what memories were you protecting?" He hissed through a clenched jaw.

"…" Harry met Snape's dark eyes calmly. "You'll get angry."

"I am furious."

"Because you already know…"

"Why? Why you brat? Why would you throw yourself in this much danger to protect me?" Snape hissed, shaking him by the shoulders.

Before Harry could reply, the door opened and Nagini slithered inside followed by the Dark Lord. Snape had taken a couple of steps away from him and Harry felt his consciousness relax. He was still aware of what he was doing, but it was like he forgot all except his obedience to the Dark Lord.

"Ah, Severus, you're with Harry are you?" Voldemort spoke and Nagini wrapped herself around Harry's body, resting her head comfortably against his shoulder.

"Lucius explained the importance of potion making skills for poisons, master." Harry replied.

"Excellent thinking, Harry. However, this potion is one you needn't concern yourself with for a while."

"Yes, master."

"The potion is progressing well my lord." Snape spoke. The ladle kept turning as he poured in a handful of the powder every three stirs until a little less than half remained in the jar.

"Excellent, Severus. Harry, come with me… Bellatrix tells me you cannot perform the unforgivables well." Voldemort said, leading him toward the exit. "She says you're not feeling them, you don't wish to make them. I'll remedy that. I will demonstrate as many times as necessary. I will make sure you feel it."

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As the door closed Severus took a moment to collect his thoughts. 'I will make you feel it.' He was going to torture him. He needed to find that book. Now. Damn the consequences. He was not letting Potter endure this… especially after knowing that he was still in there.